Mr. Big Shot: An Enemies To Lovers Romance (Kinda Cocky Book 1), стр. 25
He put out his hand. “Please. Take a seat.”
The office door closed behind me, and I jumped. Then I whipped around, staring at the thick wooden door before I let out the breath I didn’t know I had been holding. I slowly turned to face Zane, and I watched him sit down in his own chair, his eyes imploring me to move closer to him.
You need this job, Karina. Come on.
With one foot in front of the other, I moved to the chair in front of his desk. I handed him my resume before taking a seat, but I had a hard time taking my eyes off him. He looked spectacular, as always. And I prayed to God, hoping he was listening, that my past with Zane wouldn't affect the interview.
But, he was only human.
Just do your best. That’s all you can do.
Zane’s eyes studied my resume. “Everything all right?”
I nodded. “Yes, sir. Why do you ask?”
He shook his head. “No, ‘sir.’ Zane’s fine.”
“I can do that.”
His eyes met mine. “Are you all right?”
His question seemed genuine enough.
“I am now, thank you.”
“What happened?”
I looked up from my clenched hands. “Huh?”
“The emergency. What happened?”
I paused. “It’s kind of personal.”
“Oh, I see. Understood.”
His eyes fell back to my resume, and I worried that not answering the question would count against me. “My father took a spill back home and had to go to the hospital.”
His eyes slid back to mine. “Is he okay?”
“He is now. But, I knew I’d never be able to do this interview with a clear head without knowing he was going to be alright.”
“Well, I’m glad he’s okay. And I’m glad you’re self-aware enough to understand that about yourself.”
I took that as a good thing and leaned against the cushion of the chair.
I really hoped this was one of those situations where they were looking for someone genuine and not just a pretty face. Because if the girls I passed on the way up here were any indication of what Zane was looking for…well… I certainly didn’t fit the bill. Still, I sat there in the silence of his office while he read my resume. My eyes danced around at the bookshelves built into the side walls. The shades on the tinted window behind Zane allowed only muted light into the room. I watched him reach for the golden chord of a green lamp, and it clicked on, filling his desk with a harsh white light.
I much preferred the dull ambiance of warm white lights.
“You have an enormous operation here,” I said.
Zane nodded mindlessly. “Yes. We do.”
“I know you’re probably searching for real estate experience, but--.”
“Rule one. Never assume what I’m thinking or doing at any given moment.”
Well. “Yes, sir. I mean, Zane. Yes, Zane.”
His eyes flickered back to mine. “Thank you.”
I nodded. “You’re welcome.”
“It says here you’re a systematic person.”
“I am yes. And quite organized.”
“You’ll need those skills at peak efforts at all times around here. You think that’s something you can keep up with?”
I swallowed hard. “I think I’ll need some time to adjust like all new people do. But, once I get adjusted, yes. I know that’s something I can keep up with.”
He grinned. “I like the confidence.”
I shrugged. “Some people say it’s my best attribute.”
He chuckled before his stare dropped back to my resume. Then, he tossed it onto his desk. Uh oh. A toss was never good. Had I already bombed the interview?
14
Zane
If I wanted to be cocky about the situation, Karina’s answer to my question swiftly shot that urge down. I had to admit when I first saw her walk into my office, pride bubbled in my chest. Obviously, she had taken some of my advice. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have been there interviewing with me. Then again, Brenden was the one that booked all of the interviews for me. His only requirement was that the person hired was female. As I sat there with her resume on my desk, I couldn't deny how impressive it was.
And how catchy the language that she used was.
Yep. She took my advice.
I leaned back into my chair and crossed my leg over my knee. I didn’t know if Karina would be a smart hire, especially after what happened between the two of us the other night. I knew I could keep things professional. But could she? She was the one that abandoned me at her place. She was the one that kicked the storm of drama up in the first place. And clearly, she hadn’t done enough research on the company to know who even ran it.
Not smart on her part.
I watched her anxiously wiggle around in the seat in front of my desk. I still didn’t know whether to interview her or not. I didn’t really have a choice, though. I had a strict policy of not sleeping with my co-workers, including my secretary. Did that kind of thing account for any interactions before her hiring, though? I didn’t know. I’d never been put in that kind of situation before. And I knew if I asked Brenden, the only thing he'd want would be details of our night together.
Not going down that road. Ever.
Plus, Karina had a lot going for her. She wasn’t merely qualified for the job, but she had a good head on her shoulders. She wasn’t self-absorbed or addicted to makeup and clothes. She knew how to dress for a job simply judging by how she dressed for that interview. She was still beautiful, but it was tasteful. Less distracting. And she held herself with poise.
During a tense moment like that one, she hadn’t batted an awkward eyelash.
And I wanted to take that into consideration.
“That’s the most refreshing answer I’ve been given all day,” I said.
She let out a long breath. “Really?”
I nodded. “Really.”
“Well, that’s good. Because the look on your face tells me you didn’t like it at all.”
The corner of my mouth curved up. “That’s my thinking face.”
“Your thinking face?”
I nodded. “Mhm. My